Triple-purpose adapter fixture for skates



3, 1950 M, M, 'BAQN 2,524,587 TRIPLE-PURPOSE ADAPTER FIXTURE FOR SKATES lFiled March 31, 1949 a El Inventor f 24 22 m By Patented ct. Q

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TRIPLE-PURPOSE ADAPTER FIXTURE t Y Fon sKA'rEs Miles M. Bacon, Jacksonville, Fla. Application March 31, 1949`,.seria1N0. 845m z claims. (o1. .esteiipzngjv hanger unit and serves to properly buttress theA brace arm portion of the hanger unit.

Usually the bracket which is employed as a hanger and separator for the double-jawed shoe clamping unit is a simple notched lug'and the hanger for the wheel and axle assembly is mounted on and associated with an independent bracket or fixture.

In carrying out the principles of the present invention, I have found that by integrating the stated lug with the hanger accommodating bracket and making a more massive single unit out of the Vtwo parts as currently used and by incorporating other features, a skate equipped with the new multiple purpose, one-piece `adapter iixture is rendered more reliable, is greatly strengthened Vand provides a superior high-,grade skate less susceptible to breakage* More specifically, the present invention has to do with a single casting which is characterized by a heavy stress and strain distributing body or plate portion equipped with a slotted hanger lug at the forward end to suspend and retain the shoe clamping means or unit, has a rearwardly and downwardly inclined buttressing member to stabilize and strengthen the action of the coacting brace arm and, in addition, has a socketed abutment at the rearward end to accommodate a conventional type cushioned bolt which servesto anchor the wheel and axle assembly hanger unit in place.

In reducing to practice a preferred embodiment of the invention, I have evolved and produced a single casting which is economical and of the utmost in simplicity in form and design and which is characterized by a centrally clisposed langed ovate plate portion to be riveted to the under side of the toe-plate, which carries a depending lug with attaching ears on the forward end and a block-like abutment at the rearward end, said abutment being aptly shaped and located, socketed and also provided with an attaching ear.

Other objects and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following dcscription and the accompanying illustrative drawings.

In the drawings: y Figure 1 is a bottom plan view of a toe-plate with my improved triple-purpose adapter fixture secured in place, with the shoe clamping unit.. attached and with the wheel and axle assembly and y hanger unit removed.

Figure 2 is a side elevational View of the structureseen in Figure 1 with the hanger unit ,andv wheel and axle means operatively associated and,

in place.

Figure 3 is .a central longitudinal sectional:

view on the line 3 3 oi Figure l, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4. is .a transverse or cross section taken on the vertical line 4-4 of Figure 2, also looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now to the drawings by distinguishi ing reference numerals and lead lines, the fragmentary portionof the toe-plate shown, whichis conventionahis denoted by the numeral Ii, The improved, triple-purpose adapter bracket or iixture, las a unitary device, is denoted by the numeral l andis best shown in Figure 1. The` conventional double-jawed shoe clamp orunit;

is denoted'by the numeral 8.

The wheel'assembly and axle unit comprises the axle 9 and customary wheels I0 thereon."

The hanger unit for the wheel and axle assembly means is denoted by the numeral II and is substantially conventional and includes a bearing I2 rockably mounted on the axle, an outstanding cup I3 on one side and a brace arm I4 on the opposite or diametrcally opposed side terminating in a reduced projection I5 (see Fig. 3). The unit also includes a headedv bolt or fastening screw I6, a washer Il, a cushioning sleeve I8, a cup-washer I9 and a com'plemental nut 2i).

The clamp unit 8 embodies the usual two-Way threaded feed screw 22, tool grips 23, guides 24 which are welded or otherwise suitably xed on the toe plate i3, as usual, and clamp straps 25 with lateral portions 26 threaded on the bolt and shoe sole grips 2l. Usually this unit (feed screw 22 and clamp straps 25) is suspended in a simplev shaped and has a keyhole slot 34 (see Fig. 3) and also has outstanding attaching ears 35 held in place by rivets 36. The keyhole slot obviously serves to facilitate assembling the feed screw and after the clamp means is applied, the feed screw is fitted into the restricted end portion of the slot. The'abutment at the rearward end of the plate is of block-like form and is denoted by the numeral 31 and has a screw-threaded socket 38 to accommodate the assembling bolt I6, there being an attaching ear 33 riveted to the toe-plate as at 48. The brace strap, which is conventional, is denoted by the numeral 4I and has one end riveted, as at 42, and the other end apertured and laterally bent, as at 43, and interposed between the nut 20 and the adjacent inclined or lslantihg end of the abutment. It follows that the abutment therefore serves as suspension or supporting means for the bolt-equipped end of the hanger unit II. The buttressing member 3I serves as a backup anvil for the brace arm I4.

By forming the adapter 1 of a single casting made -up of the parts shown and described, an effective and reliable mount is thus provided to suspend and hold in place the shoe clamp unit 8, the hanger unit 3, and consequently the wheel andaxle assembly unit, and provision is made to properly accommodate the end-thrust action of the brace arm I4. Added strength and rigidity is assured by the presence of the substantially endless reinforcing ange 29.

In view of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, it is believed that a clear understanding of the device will be quite apparent to those skilled in this art. A more detailed description is accordingly deemed unnecessary. l

It is to be understood, however, that even though there is herein shown and described Ia preferred embodiment of the invention, the same is susceptible to certain changes fully comprehended by the spirit of the invention as herein described and within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In a rink-type roller skate of the kind shown and described, in combination, a toe-plate, a wheel and axle assembly, a hanger unit for said assembly embodying an axle bearing provided on one side with a cup carrying an attaching bolt and nut retained cushioning sleeve surrounding said bolt and seated in said cup, and further provided with a diametrically opposite end thrust brace, the latter at an approximate acute angle to said bolt, shoe clamping means embodying a two-way feed screw and sole gripping clamp straps threaded on said feed screw and shiftably mounted on said toe plate, and a one-piece triplepu'rpose adapter unit embodying a relatively heavy plate fixed to said toe plate adjacent to said shoe clamping means, said plate having a vertically disposed hanger lug at its forward end, said glug being of heavy duty proportions, having a vertical keyhole-slot through which said feed screw passes, and terminating in lateral outstanding ears secured to said toe-plate, said unit also including a buttressing member against which said brace vis angularly propped, and a socketed abutment for said bolt at the rearward end of said plate, said abutment inclining toward said lug.

2. A skate attachment of the class shown and described comprising a single casting embodying an ovate attaching plate with a lateral correspondingly ovate marginal rim-ange and having a socketed abutment at its rearward end, a buttressing anvil at its forward end within the confines of said rim, and a heavy duty lug, said lug having a keyhole-slot and terminating in a pair of outstanding attaching ears.

MILES M. BACON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES `PATENTS 

